Health risk by inhalation of PM 2.5 in the metropolitan zone of the City of Mexico

The study assessed the risk to the health of the inhabitants of the metropolitan zone of the City of Mexico posed by the chemical elemental contamination present in PM 2.5 particles. PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) analysis of particles identified 18 elements, thereby achieving an elemental c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEcotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 866 - 871
Main Authors Díaz, R.V., Rosa Dominguez, Elena
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Inc 2009
Subjects
Atmospheric pollution
Health risk
Inhalation exposure
Mexico City
Particulate matter
PIXE
PM 2.5
Public health
Risk assessment
Risk characterization
Atmospheric pollution
PIXE
Risk assessment
Particulate matter
PM 2.5
Risk characterization
Inhalation exposure
Public health
Mexico City
Health risk
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Summary:The study assessed the risk to the health of the inhabitants of the metropolitan zone of the City of Mexico posed by the chemical elemental contamination present in PM 2.5 particles. PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) analysis of particles identified 18 elements, thereby achieving an elemental characterization. In order to calculate the risk posed by each element, the dose of elemental exposure was considered in relation to the corresponding reference dose. This gave an elemental risk of less than 1 for the three age groups; however, when the additive risk is considered for each age group a value exceeding 1 is obtained. Hence, although no individual element represents a public health risk, a consideration of the total risk for each of the age groups shows that members of the population are at high risk of contracting any one of the diseases that can be caused by the elements present in PM 2.5.
ISSN:0147-6513
1090-2414
DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2008.09.014